A 250-year-old timepiece-automaton adorned with golden mechanical birds, which still sing to this day.

This magnificent Crimean estate was once a playground of the Russian elite.

A massive cross stands as the sole resident of this water-locked Crimean crag.

340-foot statue built to honour the Heroes of the Soviet Union.

A reconstructed medieval gateway that was the magnificent entrance to the capital city dating back to 1037.

The haunting complex honors the millions of Ukrainians who died in the forced famine under Soviet rule.

This ancient monastery complex was transformed from an island to a peninsula when the lake was partially drained.

This Armenian monastery was carved out of cliffs and named after the spear used to stab Jesus.

A geological oddity topped with a 2,000-year-old pagan temple.

Despite producing just a handful of movies, a brave and lyrical filmmaker has an entire museum dedicated to him.

One man’s collection of photography books has transformed into a charming exhibition space.

Destruction from Armenia's 1988 earthquake inspired an artist's sculptures of scrap metal.

This medieval manuscript collection has some of the most obscure and ancient texts in the world.

This little medieval church hidden in the center of Yerevan was lost and rediscovered—twice.

This controversial statue once honoured a Russian Field Marshall, before ultimately being dismantled in a push to remove symbols of Russian influence.

This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.

A black cat protests the City Guild in Riga's Old Town.

3,000 market stands in five former Zeppelin hangars.

This charming Latvian lane doubled as Baker Street on the Soviet Union’s version of Sherlock Holmes.

A preserved oak tree about 3,500 years old found in Riga, Latvia.

A stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

World's largest bell sits on the grounds of the Kremlin in Moscow.